Fence-post.



FENJE POST. 4 vApplimion med my e, 1961. (No Model.)

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4NTTED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM C. ZICKEFOOSE, OF DES MOINES, IOWA, ASSIGrNOR OF TWO- THIRDS TOADAM N. ODENI-IEIMER AND LYMAN MOATS, OF EAGLE- FENCE-POST.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 686,433, dated November12, 1901.

Application filed May 6, 1901.

T0 @ZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, VILLIA'M C. ZICKE- FOOSE, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Des Moines, in the county of Polk and State of Iowa,have invented a new and useful Fence-Post, of which the following is aspecification.

The invention relates to improvements in fence-posts. f

The object of the present invention is to improve the construction offence-posts and to provide an exceedingly simple and inexpensive one ofgreat strength and durability, designed particularly for use inconnection with wire fences, and adapted to enable the same to bereadily connected with and disengaged from it.

The invention consists in the construction and novel combination andarrangement of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, and pointed out in the claims hereto appended.

In the drawings, Figure l is a perspective view of a fence-postconstructed 'in accordance with this invention. Fig. 2 is a sideelevation of the saine, the upper sections of the post being separated.Fig. 3 is a detail perspective view ot' the lower portion or base. Fig.4 is a horizontal sectional View of the post.

Like numerals of reference designate corresponding partsi'n allthefigures of the drawings.

1 designates the base of the post,construct ed of suitable material,preferably metal, and consisting of a thin intermediate portion andenlarged ends and provided at its upper end with a head 2 and havingv anenlarged tapered lower end 3, adapted to be readily driven'into theground. The head 2, which is rounded, is provided with perforatious 4for the reception of rivets 5 or other suitable fastening devices whichpivot upper sections 6 and 7 to the base. The base of the post isprovided with laterally-extending tapered flanges 8, rigid with theintermediate portion of the post and adapted to assist in supporting thepost in an upright position. These flanges enable the post to resist anystrain laterally of the fence and the thin interme- Serial No. 5 9,021.(No model.)

diate portion of the base will resist any strain longitudinally of thefence.

Theupper sections 6 and 7, which are approximately U-shaped inhorizontal section, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 4 of the accompanyingdrawings, form a tubular post, and they are provided with lowerbifurcated ends 9 and 10, which straddle the head of the post and whichare perforated for the reception of the pivots 5. The section 7 isprovided at the inner longitudinal edges ll with inclined slots 12,having enlarged inner portions forming seats for fence-wires, and thelatter are adapted to be placed in the slots when the upper sections ofthe post are separated, as illustrated in Fig. 2 of the accompanyingdrawings. The sections 6 and 7 of the post are also adapted to be spreadapart to expose the solid head or top of the base to permit the latterto be driven into the ground without liability of injuring the uppersections. The sections are also adapted to be arranged at an inclinationto set the post at an angle to the base to arrange the upper portion inan upright position on a hillside, and the sections are held together bya transverse bolt 13,provided at one end with a head and having a nut atthe other end and passing through a perforation of the section 7 andthrough a slot 14 of the other section 6. The slot 14 permits theAnecessary vertical play of the sections on each other incident toarranging them at an angle to the base.

It will be seen that the fence-post is eX- ceedingly simple andinexpensive in construction, that it possesses great strength anddurability, and that it lirml y supports a fence and is capable ofresisting. both longitudinal and lateral strain. It will also beapparent that the pivoted sections are adapted to be separated tofacilitate the attachment and removal of the fence-Wiresand to enablethe IOO pivoted to the head and adapted to be swung downward to exposethe saine to enable the base to be driven into the ground, said sectionsbeing also adapted to be opened and closed to conne and releasefence-wires, substantially as described.

2. A fence-post comprising a base adapted to be driven into the ground,and a pair of semitubular upper sections having their lower ends splitor bifurcated and pivoted to the top of the base and adapted to be swungdownward to expose the same to enable the base to be driven into theground, said sections being also adapted to be opened and closed toconne and release fence-wires, substantially as described.

3. A fence-post comprising a base consisting of the thin intermediateportion provided with flanges 8, and the enlarged upper and lower ends,the lower end being pointed and the upper end forming a head, and a pairof semitubular upper sections having their lower ends split orbifurcated and pivoted to the head and adapted to be swung downward toexpose the same to enable the base to be driven into the ground, saidsections being also adapted to be opened and closed to confine andrelease fence-Wires, substantiallyas described.

In testimony that I claim lthe foregoing as my own I have hereto affixedmy signatu re in the presence of two witnesses.

VILLIAM C. ZICKEFOOSE. lVitnesses:

E. T. MORRIS, JULIA GREENLEAF.

